If you’ve got kids, you’re no doubt familiar with the tricky job of managing their temperature when they’re ill.
Fever is very common in children post-immunisation and during illness such as ear infections (check out Auris Ear Care for advice on dealing with this last one). Having a good digital thermometer to hand when you need to monitor your child’s temperature regularly can really help you manage the situation calmly and effectively.
We’ve all been there, haven’t we; worried about a feverish child and needing to take their temperature every hour or two, but desperate not to disturb them while they sleep, or draw their attention back to their discomfort while they’re awake. Digital thermometers are a great way to obtain an accurate reading, but as anyone who has tried to use them with a wriggly or sleeping child will know, it isn’t always easy in practice!
We’ve been trying out the Braun No Touch + Forehead thermometer, which avoids a lot of the hassle by offering a different way of taking the temperature of babies and children.
The No Touch + Forehead thermometer enables you to take a temperature reading without actually touching the skin. This means you can avoid disturbing a sleeping child, and don’t have to make a poorly child sit completely still while you take a reading.
My first reaction to this way of taking a temperature was ‘But surely it can’t provide an accurate reading then?’ Well, it really does. Braun have combined an ultra-sensitive sensor with a clever optical system, allowing the thermometer to capture twice as much radiated heat compared to traditional forehead thermometers. The captured energy is then converted into a clinically accurate temperature reading.
The No Touch + Forehead looks very similar to a traditional in-ear digital thermometer, but instead of the pointy bit that goes in the ear, there’s a circular area where the sensors are located. It fits nicely into your hand and all the buttons are very easy to reach while you’re holding it.
In ‘no touch’ mode, you simply hold it up to 5cm away from the skin to take a reading. There’s a built-in sensor which takes out the guesswork by guiding the thermometer to the correct distance, so you know you’re doing it right. And there’s a silent function too, for minimal disruption. Imagine what a difference this mode makes in the middle of the night!
You can also use it in ‘touch’ mode, which works when in contact with the forehead – great for when kids are awake and calm. Both modes give you a reading in a couple of seconds and are suitable for use from newborn.
Regardless of the mode you’re using, all you do is turn it on, wait for the screen to display a dotted line, and press the thermometer icon button to take a reading. It really is that simple, and super-quick to use.
Reading the results is really easy too; the numerical readout is large, clear and backlit. There’s also a colour indicator which displays green if no fever, yellow if the temperature is elevated, and red for a possibly high fever. I think this is a really nice feature; as well as giving you an instant visual indicator, it’s a neat backup to your own knowledge about what constitutes a raised temperature and whether you need to take action.
As parents we naturally associate the need to monitor temperature with children, but the Braun No Touch + Forehead is perfectly suitable for use by the whole family. I particularly like the fact that the ‘no touch’ function helps to limit the spread of germs between family members; let’s face it, kids don’t need any help sharing their germs do they?!
We’re impressed with the Braun No Touch + Forehead. It’s well-designed, very simple and quick to use, and takes the hard work out of monitoring your child’s temperature. It’s a particularly good option for night-time use, when you really need to minimise disruption and make deciphering a reading as easy as possible. When you’re a parent caring for an ill child, being reassured that you’re doing all the right things is so important, and the Braun No Touch + Forehead is a great tool to help deliver this peace of mind.
The Braun No Touch & Forehead thermometer retails at around £52.99 and is available at Asda, Boots, Amazon and baby specialist retailers. Will you be giving it a try?
I was gifted the Braun No Touch + forehead for review purposes, all opinions and comments are honest and genuine.
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